The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-03-11
A BATTLE AMONG THE ANTS.
Fierce Fight Near Philadeiphia--Tho Captiv0-
Made Slaves.
From the Philadelphia Ledger.

oil black ants Formica Pennsylvani-
ca built their nests betweeen the cell
ing and the roof of a shed near our
dwelling inthesuburbs OF Philadelphia.
AT distance OF a few hundred feet
from the shed a second colony OF the
same species had also built home in
sheltered place. Both nests were
unusually populous.
Battles between ants OF different
species, fought for the purpose of cap
turing slaves have been often DIES cribed.
But on bright morning in August /
was witness OF fight between these
| two colonies OF the same species. which
could have been waged for no such
purpose, and which gave the occasion
Tor a greater display OF forethought
on the part of the combatants than
is usually conceded even to the ant.
The nest in the roof was the one at
tackled. The only approach to it
rom the ground was by u post and
plastered wall about six feet high. A
smooth plank floor fitted closely
against the wall and post and was =
raised above the ground by low
step. This floor was the scene of the
conflict
In all my repeated study of these
nests and their inhabitents during
the summer months the small work.
ers were the only ones who seemed to
labor. They did all the foraging and
1t was unusual to see one OF the larger
workers outside OF the entrance
OF the nest, which however.
they faithfully guarded. The con.
duct OF the latter so much more close,
~ agreed with that of the soldier ants
Of kindred species that in speaking of
them in this paper shall call them
soldiers and, so far rs could be seen,
lid nothing else.
When l saw them on the morning
II the battle both the small
workers. and the large ones or soldl
ers, were out on the wall post, andx
loor III great numbers. There was no
ght then going on. A strong force o
oldiers held every approach at t
Dot OF the post and wall, small
odes were formed in regular Ii,
all way up the post, and large d
landing groups We're Stationed
lose distances here and there upS1
ne fioor and step, and running ND
nd down the post supporting the \
est.
While l stood wondering at the I'M
sual commotion | saw Mt the dis.
Cnce OF few feet host OF small
orkers, closely followed by q great
orde OF soldiers, streaming along a
nee from the other distant nest. -
hey must havenumbered thousands.
q very short time these hostile '
orkers descended the fence to the
ound, swarmed up the step to the
,or, and poured in crowds upon the
iensive scouts. The antagonists
shed upon each other, and with
cir strong Jaws cut of herea leg and
ere an antenna, and sometimes sew
I'd the body ofan opponent at blow.
he foremost soldiers of the defensive
rty came to the rescue, and the
arm OF hostile workers was driven
ok toward the step.
3ut by this time the soldiers OF the
.acking party had reached the floor.
wing deliberately onward in n
p'sfNh HllNSg CIllSnlIlB I0Glr
aller foes as they advanced In
moments the small workers were
ler all killed or retii ed from the
Mt. Then the battle between the
diers OF the opposing forces began
earnest. Hating moment till
ir ranks were close and compact
ugh by no means regular, the in
'ers advanced TO the attack in
Sc mass seeming to completely
er the floor over which they
we'd. In this close array they met
defenders, whom they greatly out
lbered. They we're received, how
:, with courage as great as their
!, and their ranks were quickly
ken up and thrown into apparent
rider.
ter the general charge had been
made and the combatants were
ed up in an undistinguishable
vd, single champions were seen
ling around the floor seeking a
When two of these champions
reached each other q mutual
with the ends OF their
ma now seemed necessary
I'll foe from friend. Many such
.lngs were friendly, and after the
tation both would rush away at
'peed. But when, by the delicate
OF feeling or whatever serves them
lus distinguish, each had found
lemy, they rushed upon one an
the utmost rage, cllnched both
feet and Jaws, and doubling them
$ up, rolled over the floor, biting
tearing each other, entirely un-